Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is marking his 36th year in the Senate and admits he knew very little when he entered the halls of Congress.

“I didn’t even know where the Senate floor was when I got here,” Hatch said. “I had to quickly find out where the men’s rooms were and all that kind of stuff.”

Hatch advises new members to seek out a handful of veterans whom they trust and watch how they manage business on the floor and in committee.

“Be observant; sit back and watch; and listen more than anything else,” Hatch advised. “Learn from your colleagues; there are a lot of really brilliant people here on both sides — more on one side than the other, of course.”

Oh and the famously strait-laced Mormon advises new members that they don’t have to attend every late-night function.

“When I got here, I thought you had to go to every invitation, and I was going to two or three things a night,” Hatch said. “It finally dawned me, ‘Ah, I don’t have to do all this.’”

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y), who has served in Congress since 1971, said if a freshman lawmaker wants to make a splash on the Hill, it’s all about finding a niche issue to own.

“Try to find out what interest they have in any local, national or international subject, and see if there’s a spokesperson in Washington for that,” he said. “They could be a big fish in a small pond by finding an issue people are concerned about but no one is talking about.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) echoed Rangel’s comments, noting it is important for members to find something “to really specialize in.” But he also had a key tip for busy lawmakers on the go: where to eat.

“The best place to eat is the Dirksen buffet. It is fabulous, and most members don’t know about it,” he said. “I recommend it, and it’s modestly priced, and it’s all you can eat. That’s a very important tip.”

They may be there to fix America’s financial woes, but lawmakers also have to learn how to balance their own books first. There’s the daunting task of hiring staff, opening district offices and balancing the budget of a congressional office.